Guwahati: Surat is grappling with a serious shortage of cooking gas, which has forced many migrant workers to leave the city even though jobs remain available.
Prices for LPG have skyrocketed to Rs 500 per kilogram, and households have gone days without cylinders, making it impossible for families to prepare meals, according to reports.
The situation illustrates India’s vulnerability to disruptions in the global energy supply and has led to urgent imports of LPG from the United States.
In Gujarat’s Surat, hundreds of migrant laborers have flocked to Udhna Railway Station, heading back to their hometowns because of the acute scarcity of cooking gas. Many families have been unable to secure cylinders for over two weeks, while costs have jumped sharply, leaving day-to-day life extremely difficult, the report suggests.
Even though textile factories still have vacancies, the shortage of fuel for cooking has made living in the city unsustainable, prompting workers to temporarily relocate.
The disruption is tied to rising tensions in West Asia, which escalated following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in late February.
In response, Iran has limited maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key channel for the shipment of energy products, including much of India’s LPG imports from the region. These restrictions have delayed deliveries to Indian ports, tightening domestic supply and driving prices higher.
As a result, Surat’s industrial and household activities are being heavily affected. The departure of workers is creating gaps in the labor force, putting pressure on textile and manufacturing operations that are already facing challenges from global supply chain disruptions.
Without swift resolution, the ongoing outflow of skilled labor could inflict longer-term economic damage on the city, according to reports.
To counter the shortfall, India has turned to the United States for additional LPG supplies. State-run oil companies have signed contracts for 2.2 million metric tonnes of LPG sourced from the US in 2026, and several shipments have already reached Indian ports to relieve shortages.
While this step provides some relief, restrictions on commercial LPG use persist, and the market may remain tight if tensions in West Asia continue.